Who’s left on your holiday list? There are always a few people who are difficult to shop for, but the gift targets that give you the most trouble are preteens/teens, in-laws, and teachers. You said there is. So here are a bunch of ideas, many of them under $30…
Teens and teenagers:
Preteens and teens are notoriously difficult to shop for, so here are some ideas. Things like a gift card to a cafe where you can order whatever you want, or a quiet basketball so you can dribble while your parents are at work. If they’re style conscious, consider a cute nightshirt (a budget-friendly option here), a gift certificate to H&M, or a cool phone case (I want one myself, ngl). Finally, if you’re looking for book recommendations for preteens, 11-year-old Anton and I are working our way through the graphic memoir Uprooted. This memoir tells the story of Ruth Chan’s childhood move from Toronto to Hong Kong.
teacher:
Now that my children are in middle school and high school, I feel more indebted to their teachers than ever before. (Anton’s teacher had to ask the kids to make cologne easier recently, haha.) Express gratitude, says a teacher named Christine. “I pin them behind my desk to cheer me up on tough days.” Also, “I send an email to my boss with an anecdote about what we did for your child.” It’s best shared,” Whitney adds. Gift certificates for neighborhood cafes, lunch spots, and Target are useful year-round. Remember, “the teachers have all the mugs,” says Katie, but children can’t do anything wrong themselves, says Sarah. “Every time I see a leaf my child has found, I shed a tear.” And if all else fails, I vow to put these earplugs around my cheerful teenager . My boyfriend Freddy, who teaches history, admits, “I’ve always loved a good scarf.”
Step-parents/grandparents:
For your in-laws and grandparents, choose a personalized gift like traditional snacks, condiments, or cookies from their hometown (I choose English shortbread or Michigan cherry jam). Or choose something you use regularly, like a magazine subscription or a duck umbrella. Another approach is to consider their hobbies. If they love home decor, how about ribbon hooks? If they’re big readers, why not consider this witty novel that topped many best of 2024 lists . Finally, donating to a cause they care about is always a nice gesture.
What are your thoughts? Are these helpful? What other stumbling blocks are you having in your life?
PS Last year’s hard-to-buy guide, and the complete 2024 Cup of Joe gift guide.
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